The event began in 2006 and through the effort and good product of performance of organizers, until now the travel fair is held at Robinson Place – Bacolod.  Different provinces in Western Visayas and the Super Region come together in this event to promote and market their world-class hotels and resorts. This is an opportunity for Negrenses to be able to appreciate the different heritage, culture and tourist destinations of the Super Region. Those different and attractive booths for travel and tourism executives, products, presentations and promotions related to and focused on travels. Adventure and water sports, vacation, theme parks, holiday cruise packages, top regional holiday destinations, exciting low fares and travel Accessories and other related product that cater from Sipalay, Bacolod, Sagay, Provincial Government of Negros  Occidental and Palawan, Casino Filipino Bacolod, Microtel Hotels and Resorts, Crimson Resort and spa in Mactan, PTA/TIEZA, Punta Bulata Resort, Maribago Blue Waters resrt of Cebu and many more .

The aim of this event is to give benefit to the different individuals not just in tourism industry but all the locals through the exchanging of their brochures and even presenting their culture by their booth. This event also brings the creativity of each Province in presenting their destinations.

“We need to fight the bad culture of Negrenses where we feed and spend for tourists, instead of the tourists spending in Negros. Our tourism industry needs economic gain,” De la Cruz said.

De la Cruz, who heads the Sangguniang Panlalawigan Committee on Tourism, chaired a public hearing on “An ordinance enacting the Negros Occidental Provincial Sustainable Tourism Code to govern the tourism industry in the province, its promotion, development and administration.”

He said the participants gave their inputs on the draft tourism code to further improve it.

The code will pave the way for the creation of a tourism council and a tourism master plan for Negros Occidental, de la Cruz said.

“We have a lot of beautiful things – culture, arts, places, food to promote,” he added.

The ordinance has passed on first reading and the draft with its new inputs will be presented to the industry stakeholders next week for approval before it goes through second and third reading in the SP, he added.

The draft also assures of incentives and government infrastructure support for tourism industry in Negros Occidental.*CPG

written by: CARLA GOMEZ

Speaker Assistant Secretary Maria Victoria Jasmin receives a plaque of appreciation from DOT Regional Director Edwin Trompeta, ATONO President Mr. Ver Pacete and Provincial Tourism Officer Jennylind Cordero.

The Regional Tourism Congress held in Bacolod on Friday August 20, 2010 had about 380 participants from all over Region 6 representing Local Government Units- Mayors, Councilors and Tourism Officers, Tourism Council of various towns,Tourism Stakeholders from Resorts, Hotels, Travel Agencies , Spa’s and Tourism Schools like Filamer University of Capiz, Colegio San Agustin Bacolod and Iloilo, La Consolacion College Bacolod attended the whole day affair.

Keynote Speaker is Assistant Secretary Maria. Victoria Jasmin, Department of Tourism-Office of the Tourism Standards Head Maria Rica Bueno talked on Accreditation Standards, Mr. Tadashi Kume of JICA Experts Team talked on the new Tourism Statistical Data Gathering for the Super Region, with Protocol and Social Graces by WIT President Lucia Lizares Yunque . Director Edwin G. Trompeta of the DOT Regional Office briefed all participants on the Area Unified Tourism Organization which will be formed in clusters such as Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao. He encouraged all provinces to come up with Provincial Tourism Councils wherein the heads of the said councils will meet the rest of the provinces in the Region to revive the Regional Tourism Council, whoever will be voted upon by the council will represent Region 6 in the Area Unified Tourism Organization in the Visayas. Provincial Tourism Officers of Region 6 also met and has prepared a lineup of possible candidates for the upcoming National Election of the Asso. of Tourism Officers of the Philippines of which the Negros Occidental Provincial Tourism Officer is the Immediate Past National President and is in-charge of the elections on October.

Bago City will be celebrating the ‘Biray sa Bantayan 2010′ and the 435th Bago City Founding Day and Feast of St. John the Baptist on June 22-24, 2010.

Highlights of the affair will include the Blessing and Inauguration of the Sparadise (Spa and Beauty Parlor) and the latest tourist attraction Bago City’s 20-25 seater River Cruise Raft which will take you to a 40-minute cruise along Bago River.

Officials and stakeholders headed by Sagay Mayor Alfredo Marañon, Jr.led the inauguration and blessing of the P3.5 million watchtower,with one of the richest fishing grounds in the country, the Visayan Sea as backdrop.

Marañon urged everyone to make an effort to advocate the protection and conservation oftheseas, the press release said.

He said,“The Visayas was once called the Alaska of the Philippine because of its rich fishing grounds and we should do our part in conserving this God’s creation and ensure its sustainability so that the next generation could this be able to enjoy them.”

Sagay Marine Reserve Protected Area Superintendent, Mayo Antonio Cueva,saidthePanal Reef, a 200-hectare reef,is one of the three fringing reefs of the 32,000 hectare protected seascape ofthe Sagay Marine Reserve.

SMR is one of the largest protected seascapes in the country and has been sought after by scientists, marine biologists, students and researches for its successful marine conservation program, the press release said.

DENR-CENR officer, Andres Untal, said the inauguration of the tower is a significant occasion and signifiedthe continuing support of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.

Fr. Erwin Magnanao officiated at the blessing rites attended bycity administrator Perfecto Marañon,Jezreel Alingco, City Planning Officer Rodnel de los Reyes,Charie Cangque,Accountant Jessie Calizar, Agriculturist Jerelu Ganancial, SagayCityPNP Chief Col. Gabriel Guiterrez,NONESCOSTPresidentDr. Rogelio Artajo, Executive Asst. IV Arthur Christopher Marañon, Atty. Charice Marañon, NNMARC executive director Wally Afuang, Molocaboc Brgy. Captain Antonio Pasaylo, Tiglawigan Brgy. Kagawad Rolando Batusbatusan, personnel of rotected Area Management Board, Sagay Marine Reserve, Bantay Dagat membersand other stakeholders, the press release added.*

From: Visayan Daily Star (www.visayandailystar.com)

Tourism awareness and pride of place has grown, Cordero said.

Considering the well-paved roads and accessibility of Negros Occidental’s destinations, plus accessible flights wherein one can take a fast craft which is just one hour away from Cebu and Panay, a tourist can also fly to Negros in the morning and go home in the evening, plus the long weekend holidays, she said.

Survey shows 840,805 day tourist or excursionist had been reported in 2009 compared to about 323,818 in 2008, Cordero said.

Packages for day tours include visits to beach and mountain resorts, museums, religious places of interest, sugar mill tours, sports events like golf, adventure tours like trekking, cycling, diving, attendance to festivals or simply enjoying Negrense delicacies and cuisine plus shopping, she also said.

The Negros Occidental Tourism Center in cooperation with the Department of Tourism and JICA is now preparing for the conduct of a new mode on survey of tourist arrivals wherein resorts and other accommodation facilities with LGU’s will be trained to have a uniform system of data collection and reporting all over the country, she said.

The 10-hectare center is located in Brgy. Granada, Bacolod City, and is nestled at the foothills of the Marapara mountain range, which is part of the Northern Negros Natural Park.

Ecopark coordinator Lilibeth Cordova said that the ecopark was made possible after 12 years of planning, adding that the center is the manifestation of the University’s concern for the environment and the welfare of the citizenry.

Cordova said that the center is also a magnificent showcase and a splendid landmark not only for the city of Bacolod but for the province of Negros Occidental as well.

Among the features of the center is the ecopark kiddie park, rainforest exhibit, orchidarium, rock garden, the butterfly park, the cactus hut, the foot trail and the Mary’s well.

Another noted spot in the center is the vaugirard, a secret space where one can refresh the body and renew the spirit with two blue swimming pools, a fishing lagoon, a large bamboo hall, five picnic sheds, two Cabanas, sprawling camping and picnic grounds with a view of majestic Marapara Mountain range.

The Center can also be a site for retreats and recollections, family and community picnics field laboratory research, group tours, leadership training camps and science filed trips.*APN

Source: The Visayan Daily Star

Bacolod City, Negros Occidental – Best Tourism Oriented LGU (Highly Urbanized City)
Bago City, Negros Occidental – Best Tourism Oriented LGU (Component City)
Silay City, Negros Occidental – Special Award, Tourism Oriented LGU (Component City)
NYALA Tours – Best Tourism Transport
Josel Malinaw- Faith Taxi-Best Taxi Driver
L’Fisher Hotel – Best Hotel (First Class)
Sylvia Manor – Best Hotel (Standard Class)
Luci Lizares Yunque , Talisay City – Best Travel Writer
Sun Star Bacolod- Special Award, Travel Publication
Ang Bagonhon, Bago City – Special Award, Travel Publication
Silay, The Sweet Life- Special Award, Travel Publication
Balaring Mangrove, Special Award, Eco-Tourism Product
Special Award for Tourism, Ma. Elma Gerasmo
Severino Pacete, Silay City-Regional Director’s Award
Cristine Mansinares, Sipalay City – Best Tourism Officer (Component City)
Jennylind Demerre Cordero, Negros Occidental -Best Provincial Tourism Officer